Banshee

Current boat name

Banshee

Boat class

7634

Function

Fishing and Hunting

Type

Length (m / ft)

6.1 / 20ft

Beam (m / ft)

1.52 / 5ft

Leeward

Keel

Masts

One Wood

Rig type

Lug

Propulsion

Oar/Sail

Designer

Traditional

Date of build

1866

Place of build

Overton, Cumbria

Present use

Museum

BANSHEE was built by Woodhouse on the River Lune at Overton as a Whammel boat. Whammeling is a type of fishing whereby a net is staked close inshore at one end and with the other end aboard a boat, being paid out as th boat describes a wide arc before returning a shore. The net is then hauled in from the shore, then,being emptiedof the catch, the whole process begins again. Although these boats have evolved especially for the job of salmon fishing on the River Lune, their early history and designs have been lost over time. Whammel fishing was being worked on the Lune in the 17th century and Woodhouse was supplying the boats at that period. The double-emned boats were referred to as 'tank boats' and were built with buoancy at each end. When the salmon were out of season, they were used as mussel boats in Morecombe Bay. BANSHEE was at some stage converted to use as a yacht and hadher deck covered and a cabin fitted.This vessel is now in store at the Dock Museum Barrow in Furness. July 2010